| Protective hand covering -> Monitor Keywords |
|
|
 
Protective hand coveringRelated Patent Categories: Apparel, Body Garments, MittensProtective hand covering description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060200891, Protective hand covering. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] 1. Field of Invention [0002] The present invention relates generally to prophylactic devices. In particular, the present invention relates to protective hand coverings for use by children to reduce their exposure to infectious disease pathogens, environmental contaminants, and other materials that may be present in locations where those children frequent, such as public restrooms. [0003] 2. Description of the Related Art [0004] Personal protective equipment (PPE) and personal protective apparel (PPA) for adults have been known in the art for many years. For example, medical professionals have relied on examination gloves, splash masks, gowns, footwear covers, and other devices to protect themselves from exposure to infectious disease pathogens. Environmental professionals have relied on masks, respirators, gloves, bibs, boots, and other devices to protect themselves from exposure to toxic hazardous materials and hazardous wastes. Firefighters, police, military, and countless other professionals have relied on many of those devices as well as other types of PPE/A to protect themselves while they perform their job. [0005] Gloves are one of the more ubiquitous types of prophylactic PPE/A, finding uses in virtually any environment. Gloves are used to protect hands from mechanical shearing and impact forces. Gloves are also used to prevent heat transfer that occurs as a result of high and low temperature extremes. Gloves are also used to prevent dermal contact with substances that can cause adverse health impacts, such as pathogens and toxic chemicals. [0006] In children, the major routes of exposure to pathogens and environmental contaminants are: (1) adsorption followed by absorption and/or diffusion through the dermal layer (i.e., dermal exposure); (2) ingestion; and (3) inhalation. It is well documented that hand-to-mouth exposure in children is greater than in adults due to the higher rates of hand-to-mouth contact in children, and the relatively higher probability and duration of contact events where a child's hand may become contaminated. The proper use of hand protection devices, like gloves, can generally reduce a child's exposure to pathogens and environmental contaminants due to dermal and ingestion exposure pathways. [0007] The potential for exposure to pathogens increases in public locations, such as in schools, restrooms, commuter transportation facilities, and restaurants. U.S. Pat. No. 6,146,365 to Nguyen discloses an invention that partially addresses that concern. The Nguyen patent describes a rectangular-shaped envelope formed by two layers of material and sealed at three peripheral edges into which a person's hand is inserted. The device is used as a contamination and moisture barrier during grasping and wiping activities in a bathroom, and it is intended to replace the standard roll of tissue paper. The Nguyen invention is aimed at protecting a person from exposure to pathogens in his or her own waste and, consequently, the spreading of those pathogens, rather than as a protective barrier to exposure to pathogens left by others on a surface that a person may come in contact with. A similar invention is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,971,138 to Soughan. [0008] U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2004/0022833-A1 to Hartwig et al. discloses a similar invention, but one used specifically by children. The Hartwig et al. patent discloses a disposable "glove"-like sheath into which a child's hand it inserted and that is used to remove urine and fecal waste by the child during bathroom activities. The invention, which may also take the shape of a mitten, is provided in the form of a roll, like toilet paper, having a plurality of individual gloves adapted to be separated at a perforated edge. The invention may also take the form of a dispenser, whereby individual gloves may be removed in a manner similar to a box of tissues or tub of "pop-up" baby wipes. The Hartwig et al. invention is also aimed at protecting a child from exposure to pathogens present in his or her own waste rather than as a protective barrier to exposure to pathogens left by others on a surface that the child may come in contact with. [0009] U.S. Pat. No. 6,119,272 to Tebbe discloses a rectangular-shaped glove worn by health care practitioners made of a flexible material that is impermeable to bacteria and viruses. The glove includes a self-adhesive closure strap for gathering the glove tightly around the wrist of the user. One problem with the glove disclosed in the Tebbe patent is that it is not easily adapted for use by a child because of its size and square shape. Gloves can dramatically lower the dexterity of a child's hand if the seams around the glove fingers are bulky. Also, an child's hand has different anthropometric proportions than an adult's hand, so even making the glove smaller may not provide adequate tactile feel and dexterity that a child may need. A mitten, if properly sized to account for the relatively shorter fingers on a child's hand (compared to an adult's hand), can provide more dexterous feel than a comparable glove. [0010] U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2004/0221367 to Darrow discloses a mitten-shaped device for picking up animal waste left by pets. One problem with the invention disclosed in the Darrow patent is that the opening is not adapted to being secured around the wrist of the user, making it practically unusable by a child because a child's hand is even smaller than an adult hand. Moreover, without a fastening device, the mitten could easily fall off of an inattentive child's hand. [0011] U.S. Pat. No. 5,020,160 to Cano discloses a protective hand covering in the shape of a glove or mitten for protecting the wearer from exposure at self-service gasoline stations, health care facilities, and clean rooms, and also for protecting the wearer while conducting domestic cleaning and gardening activities. The focus of the Cano invention is its tear-away seam that facilitates removing the glove after use. The glove disclosed in the Cano patent is not identified as being adapted for use by a child or being secured around the wrist of a child. [0012] U.S. Pat. No. 5,864,883 to Reo discloses a self-sealing tissue mitt for use in capturing pathogens shed by an individual though his or her bodily fluids (e.g., during a sneeze or other voluntary or involuntary discharge). The Reo invention is aimed at preventing the transport of pathogens away from a person, rather than preventing the person's exposure to pathogens left behind by others. [0013] Thus, what the aforementioned prior art prophylactic gloves and mitten devices fail to address is the need for an appropriately-sized protective hand cover, preferably in the shape of a mitten, which can be securely fastened around the wrist of a child and used to protect the child from exposure to pathogens and environmental contaminants often found in areas where children frequent. SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION [0014] As indicated above, a need has been identified for an appropriately-sized protective hand cover for children that is made of a suitable barrier material and is used for reducing the potential adverse health impacts associated with dermal and ingestion exposures to infectious disease pathogens and environmental contaminants that are often found in areas where children frequent, such as public bathrooms, schools, and other locations. [0015] It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a protective hand cover suitable for use by a child. [0016] It is another object of the present invention to provide a protective hand cover that is adapted to the unique shape of a child's hand to prevent significant loss of dexterity. [0017] It is still another object of the present invention to provide a protective hand cover in the shape of a mitten that includes a fastening device for securely attaching the device to a child's wrists. [0018] It is another object of the present invention to provide a protective hand cover formed from a suitable barrier material that reduces the probability of a child's hand being exposed to pathogens or environmental contaminants left on a surface of an object when the child comes in contact with that object. [0019] It is another object of the present invention to provide a protective hand cover that discourages hand-to-mouth contact behavior in children during and after activities where the probability of exposure to pathogens and environmental contaminants is higher. [0020] Those objects may be accomplished by a prophylactic mitten adapted to substantially cover and protect a child's hand from exposure to infectious disease pathogens and chemicals that can cause adverse health impacts, the mitten having an outer layer laminated to an inner layer, and a fastener adapted to securely fasten the mitten around a wrist of the child, wherein the outer layer is made from a thin polymeric fibrous web thick enough to prevent breakthrough of a liquid medium after continuous contact between the outer layer and the liquid medium for an extended period of time. The mitten may further include a decorative layer attached to the outer layer, wherein the decorative layer includes indicia. The inner layer may be made from a polypropylene web. The fastener may be elastic, hooks-and-loops, a zipper, a button, a snap, and/or a drawstring. A plurality of mittens may be removably attached to each other at a perforated edge. [0021] With those and other objects, advantages and features of the invention that may become hereinafter apparent, the nature of the invention may be more clearly understood by reference to the following detailed description of the invention, the appended claims and to the several drawings attached herein. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Continue reading about Protective hand covering... Full patent description for Protective hand covering Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Protective hand covering patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Protective hand covering or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Heatproof mitten Next Patent Application: Athletic hammock Industry Class: Apparel ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Protective hand covering patent info. IP-related news and info Results in 3.11559 seconds Other interesting Feshpatents.com categories: Accenture , Agouron Pharmaceuticals , Amgen , AT&T , Bausch & Lomb , Callaway Golf 174 |
 * Protect your Inventions * US Patent Office filing 
PATENT INFO |
|
